I don’t Cook Anymore
You probably know that I used to be a chef, and I even have a tattoo saying that “I should be in the kitchen”. I loved cooking from a very young age and always enjoyed making food for other people, and myself. Six years in the restaurant business killed that love.
Working in a restaurant is busy and hectic, and you never live that regular Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm life. Irregular schedule and not having time to eat during the workday made me live on french fries and Coke for years. I used to have this rule that every day off, I would cook for myself, and I did that at times, but over the years, I lost interest. Now when someone starts talking about food and recipes, I try to change the subject as fast as I can. Don't get me wrong, I still love eating and if someone brings me the food, I'm a happy gal.
When I changed jobs, to a hotel that serves much healthier food, I started to eat a lot better again. The only thing I miss from that job is that I always got to take home more or less heathy scraps that hardly costs anything. I always had some leftovers and bread, alllll the bread, and didn’t have to do much cooking at home.
When I quit my day job and become a full time Steemian, I realised that okay, now I really need to start feeding myself properly. I went out and bought the fridge full of food, stocking up on everything I could, thinking that I’ll cook every day. Ha, that never happened. I have thrown out more food than I care to admit, mostly due the fact that I haven’t been at home for more than a few days at a time and the ingredients spoiled. I have no interest in cooking, especially for just myself. I rather just not eat than go out, buy groceries, cook and have to do all the clean up.
I also have a bad habit of forgetting to eat when I’m absorbed in photography or writing. That has often lead me to snacking on chips and candies, but I’m trying really hard right now to get rid of that. More on the topic of sugar on aother date.
Nowadays I mostly live on take-out and simple things like fruits, bread and veggies, and premium coffee, everything that doesn’t require much effort. My favourite foods to do at home are some simple woks and I’m a little ashamed to admit, but macaroni and Heinz beans… I know, I’m a disgrace!! When I travel, I go to restaurants and hotel breakfast and more take-out. If I’m in the countryside, mama cooks for me, though I usually help out. It’s much more rewarding cooking for the family than a sad one person meal.
Of course eating take-out is expensive, especially when one is a lazy bitch and orders it delivered to her home… But I like to avoid unnecessary human contact, and leaving the apartment, and my living expenses are not that high otherwise, so I can splurge a little on food when I feel like it. I’m so glad that there are so many food delivery guys in this city so that it’s not always the same person feeding me… I usually order two meals at the same time, and eat for a day or two off of that. I don’t go out to restaurants much, because I like to eat like a pig in the comfort of my own home.
That sounds familiar, it's amazing how doing something for a job can kill something you once loved! I'm sure it will come back though, you just need some time off! I felt a similar way about photography a while back, obviously you decided to leave food - as a career - behind, but it's the kind of thing that's always going to pop back up at some point as a passion!
Oh, and self employment and a steady diet? THAT takes some doing! We have become obsessed with prepairing and vacuum packing food portions in the freezer then cooking them Sous Vide during the week. Awesome food every time with minimal effort! (plus you always have a quicker meal than a takeaway!)
It's not actually very surprising, because cooking in your own terms is fun, but when you do it for someone else, and under strict rules, it sucks! I'm sure I'll start to cook again at some point, or cook more, because I did cook for the family today, but very simple stuff.
Your meal prep is fucking on point! Like damn, I appreciate that. I hate microwave food, and "old" food in general, but vacuuming and sous vide, that is some good stuff over there.
Yep! Sounds a hell of a lot like being a paid photographer!!
Haha you're welcome! Although it's taken 8 years of missing meals, then eating whatevers handy, to finally realise it's not the best way to eat!! Plus we just got addicted to the sous vide having picked one up on sale, it's pretty amazing having everything cook exactly the same from frozen as it does from fresh! Although I've been eating WAY too much red meat, because it's friggin delicious sous vide!
It's weird that if you eat and sleep good, you feel better, who knew!?
Haha, I totally get it, anyone can be a master chef with sous wide, it's almost impossible to ruin meat when bathing it gently for hours on end :D
Life-hack: Enslave humans to cook for you 24/7. Works like a charm.
Enslaving humans for all sorts of purposes is my life goal.
LOL 😂
People say honesty is important! 💁🏻♀️
This is the main reason I could never become a gynecologist.
or a banker...
After being a professional photographer for 8 years I fell out with photography too, its such a shame! But since I joined Steem I've got the passion back! Maybe one day you will get yours... or find a new one!
I'm kinda scared that it will happen to me with photography too, because I'm super excited now, but I haven't been at this for that long. But yeah, I guess there is always new things to be interested in :)
Well it doesn't mean it will happen with photography, I think the mistake we made was not picking our cameras up for anything BUT work so once we started using them for us we got back into it! And like you said always something new to get into !
When you get too busy with steemit, you cam easily forget some things. We both been affected with thesame syndrome. I love cooking but hardly do that these day.
I need you to lecture me on how to become a full time steemian
i believe that is just the way of life, when something new comes in we forget the old ones and we dont give a care. but some nights ago i was reminded not to forget my roots. so i try to go back to things i left.
Even on steemit, remember when we started back then we would read alot of peoples blog, read their post and make beautiful comments but when we had our own strong or weak blog, we forgot about the others(comment).
But i say this to you from experience. Lets all go back to our roots and make people feel special with our comments.
And you too @eveuncovered, go back to cooking, you never know what you have missed or what you would gain from it again
I enjoyed reading your journey on eating. I can understand the headache of working as a chef, I've seen them in action because I've worked in hotels as a server and it is hard work.
Although, I'm not a chef, people used to praise my cooking: they even said I should open my own restaurant. Like you, nowadays, I couldn't care less about cooking.
I go to restaurants now and then, but I usually have supermarket soups and I make delicious salads from scratch. Oh...and I normally fast each day...no breakfast...no lunch, just pure green tea or lemon water.
Besides, life's too short to be in the kitchen toiling in a job you fell out of love with. It's good that you followed your heart and doing what feels good. It's the only way to live.
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I also don't cook, never really had, going out every day and there are so many good restaurants in Vienna :) home delivery is however expensive here especially if you are single ;)
I am very interesting about your story, better to eat at home, than to eat alone